Louise Redknapp is accused of ‘throwing her Eternal bandmates under the bus’ after pulling out of the reunion tour amid trans row
Louise Redknapp has been accused of ‘throwing her bandmates under the bus’ by the band’s original manager, after she pulled out of the Eternal reunion tour because two other members refused to play any LGBTQ+ gigs.
The singer, 48, backed out of the planned reunion tour after they allegedly insisted they wouldn’t play the dates because they believe the gay community is being ‘hijacked’ by the transgender community.
And now, Eternal’s original manager Denis Ingoldsby has furiously defended sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, who remain his clients, insisted they are ‘devastated’ and accusing Louise’s team of misrepresenting details of a private email.
Louise’s team have since refuted Ingoldsby’s claims, saying they stand by their decision to go public on the dispute.
Speaking to The Mirror, Denis has claimed there were no confirmed, or contracted dates, in place for the reunion. Louise’s team have denied this to the publication.
Claims: Louise Redknapp has been accused of ‘throwing her bandmates under the bus’, after she pulled out of the Eternal reunion tour because two members refused to play LGBTQ+ gigs
Denis said: ‘Louise and her team have thrown them under the bus and everyone is totally appalled at their bullying behaviour by totally misrepresenting the situation to suit their own agenda.’
He claimed that the sisters sent an email to Louise’s camp saying they ‘loved’ playing Pride and the ‘ethos of the event.’
Denis added that the dispute is ‘nothing about gay rights,’ and that the sisters have played ‘numerous LGBTQ+ gigs.’
He added: ‘Vernie said she had some concerns about the Pride movement being hijacked – and she is not alone – but this has now been weaponised against her, with Louise’s team trying to get her cancelled.’
Louise’s publicist Simon Jones has stated that they stand by their previous comments, telling the publication: ‘Denis Ingoldsby was not involved in the discussions about the Eternal reunion including all four members over the last two years. Easther and Vernie can try and dress this up however they wish.
The fact remains that the duo said they would only do the Eternal reunion if no Pride or LGBTQ+ festivals were included.
‘Louise would obviously not agree to excluding the LGBTQ+ community from their touring plans. We as a team absolutely do not agree with dividing the LGBTQ+ community or excluding trans people.’
MailOnline has contacted Louise Redknapp’s representatives for further comment.
Shocking: Eternal’s original manager Denis Ingoldsby has furiously defended sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, accusing Louise’s team of misrepresenting details of a private email
Hitting back: Louise’s team have since refuted Ingoldsby’s claims, saying they stand by their decision to go public on the dispute
Always and forever: On Monday, Louise addressed her decision to step down from the tour by sharing the Progress Pride Flag on her Instagram Stories, writing: ‘Always and forever’
Claims: Eternal, who shot to stardom in the nineties, were planning a huge reunion tour next year, with the highlights including performances at Pride and Mighty Hoopla (pictured 1994)
On Monday, Louise addressed her decision to step down from the tour by sharing the Progress Pride Flag on her Instagram Stories, writing: ‘Always and forever’.
The flag was created in 2018 by nonbinary artist Daniel Quasar, and is largely based on the iconic 1978 rainbow flag.
The stripes of black and brown represent marginalized LGBTIQ+ people of colour and the triad of blue, pink, and white are from the trans flag.
Eternal, who shot to stardom in the nineties, were planning a huge reunion tour next year, with the highlights including performances at Pride and Mighty Hoopla.
Both festivals celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, however the tour dates apparently did not go down well with band members Easther and Vernie Bennett.
It was revealed that Louise and her team received a message from Vernie and Easther, stating they would not be involved in any Pride shows or LGBTQ+ festivals.
Louise’s publicist, Simon Jones, said: ‘A message was sent to the team putting together the Eternal reunion stating that if it was to go ahead, neither Vernie nor Easther would perform at Pride shows or LGBTQ+ festivals.
‘This was because the duo felt that the gay community was being hijacked by the trans community and they do not support this.
‘Louise is a huge supporter and ally of the LGBTQ+ community and both herself and Kelle told the duo they would not work with anyone who held these views, and as such the reunion as a four would not be going ahead.
‘The team behind the proposed Eternal reunion are gay including management, PR and tour promoter, and neither myself nor any of the team would work with artists who held such views about the trans community.’
Easther and Vernie have been contact by MailOnline for comment.
I’m out! Louise, who recently confirmed she is dating new boyfriend Drew Michael, has performed as a solo artist at many Pride events over the years (Lousie performing at Brighton Pride in August)
Louise, who recently confirmed she is dating new boyfriend Drew Michael, has performed as a solo artist at many Pride events over the years.
Earlier this summer she took to the stage alone at Brighton Pride in August.
The Eternal tour was set to be the first time the original line-up had performed together since Louise quit in 1995 to pursue a solo career.
They soared to stardom in the early nineties with hits such as Stay and I Wanna Be The Only One.
Louise’s other former bandmate and Loose Women star Kelle Bryan has also reportedly pulled out of the reunion tour for the same reasons.
The band stayed together for another five years after Louise quit, before splitting and reuniting in 2014 on ITV’s The Big Reunion without her.
Earlier this week, Louise paid tribute to her time with the band, taking to Instagram to honour their 30th anniversary.
She wrote: ‘Where it all began… 30 years ago today Stay was released. I remember it like yesterday… Happy 30th Anniversary to my Eternal girls.
‘I remember it like if was yesterday the first radio play sat round my mums kitchen table missing the que to hit record when it played, to going to America to shoot the video and so many more incredible memories.
‘Stay is such a timeless song Easther absolutely KILLING that opening note as she does and I’m so proud this was where it all started for us! I’m so lucky I got to record this song myself for my Greatest Hits this year and girls I hope I did you proud.
‘Happy 30th Anniversary to my Eternal girls Kelle, Easther and Vernie and most importantly THANK YOU to each and every one of you that has been there with us from day 1 buying every record, coming to every show and being so supportive over the last 30 years.’
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